KUALA LUMPUR: Sunway Sanctuary, a healthcare-integrated senior living residence under Sunway Healthcare Group, has seen its occupancy rate climb to 75%, with some nights reaching as high as 89%, driven by growing demand for assisted living, rehabilitation and healthcare-integrated senior living.
The growth reflects the increasing acceptance of professionally managed senior living in Malaysia, where eldercare has traditionally been centred on family-based caregiving.
Sunway Sanctuary general manager Doris Chin Lee Shin said occupancy stood at 30% in its first year of operations before rising to 60% in the second year and 75% this year as awareness and acceptance of integrated senior living gradually improved.
“The growth has been driven by assisted living, postnatal care and medical tourism demand, including patients brought in through Sunway Medical Centre’s international patient centre and business development teams from Indonesia and Cambodia,“ she told a media briefing today.
Chin said medical tourism has become a growing source of demand for Sunway Sanctuary, driven by Sunway Medical Centre’s international patient ecosystem.
She said the residence has received patients and recovery guests from Indonesia, Cambodia, Europe and the United States through referrals from the group’s international patient centre and business development teams.
“There was an American couple travelling through Indochina who discovered Sunway Medical Centre through an artificial intelligence search while seeking treatment before extending their stay at Sunway Sanctuary during recovery.”
Furthermore, Sunway Sanctuary is beginning to see demand for retirement living among foreign residents under the Malaysia My Second Home programme, including retirees from the United Kingdom and Germany.
“We are currently receiving enquiries from Singapore, Australia, the United Kingdom, Germany, Hong Kong and Taiwan, with Singapore remaining one of its strongest markets,“ Chin said.
Malaysia has the potential to position itself as a regional retirement-living hub, supported by its strategic location, accessibility and established healthcare ecosystem, she said. “We are in the hub of Southeast Asia and flight accessibility is there, and we are multilingual and multiracial.”
Chin said Malaysia’s multicultural environment, English-speaking population, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) ecosystem and private healthcare sector could help attract retirees from regional and international markets, particularly Hong Kong and China.
“We have TCM here in Malaysia, and we also have a good medical centre. We have a good facility and good people around. We are also hospitable in our community.”
The group plans to market Sunway Sanctuary more aggressively to Southeast Asian and European markets, particularly among retirees seeking warmer climates, integrated healthcare access and wellness-oriented living environments.
“Singapore has emerged as one of the strongest markets following roadshows conducted there. We actively go to Singapore every year, twice a year in fact, to market it. And Singaporeans love our product,“ Chin said.
Singapore’s ageing population, higher living costs and land constraints could strengthen Malaysia’s appeal as a regional retirement-living destination, particularly given its lower living costs, healthcare infrastructure and accessibility.
At the same time, Chin said premium senior living could see stronger demand in Malaysia as more Generation X (Gen X) consumers become increasingly open to flexible and lower-maintenance retirement lifestyles.
More Malaysians are becoming open to ageing in professionally managed communities instead of maintaining large family homes. “They want to be flexible. They do not want to have an asset to hold them.”
Chin said many consumers have the financial capacity to consider professionally managed retirement living options.
“We do have our Employees Provident Fund, and on top of that, many Malaysians also have investments and businesses,“ she said.
The residence currently operates 235 rooms in its first phase and is preparing to expand within the same building by adding seven floors, increasing the total room inventory to 456 rooms.
Chin said, “Renovation works are expected to begin this year as demand for assisted living, rehabilitation and healthcare-integrated senior living services continues to grow. The additional floors are expected to cater to rising demand from local and international residents, including post-rehabilitation patients, retirement-living residents and medical tourism-related stays.”
The expansion comes as Malaysia moves towards an ageing nation status by 2030, driving growing demand for healthcare, rehabilitation and professionally managed senior living services.
